Enter any address in Athens County, Ohio to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall is a significant concern in Athens County, Ohio. Between 1996 and 2026, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 72 flood events and 53 flash flood events, with one recorded fatality due to flash flooding. For example, residents experienced flash flooding on May 13, 2025, due to strong thunderstorms, and widespread flooding on February 16, 2025, from a warm front bringing substantial rain.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data from Athens County shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with 214 claims averaging over $11,000 and water depths of nearly five feet. While Zone X has fewer claims, the average payout is significantly higher, exceeding $24,000, with some unshaded areas seeing payouts over $48,000. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X and areas with unknown flood zone designations, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
96 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Athens County, Ohio has recorded 125 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 53 flash floods and 72 river or area floods. The county has received 19 federal disaster declarations, 3 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1968–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides | Flood | Feb 5, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Feb 14, 2018 |
| Severe Storms | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2012 |
| Severe Storms And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2012 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 4, 2011 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Dec 22, 2004 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 27, 2004 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 17, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 16, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 7, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 5, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 4, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 3, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 28, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 25, 2024 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 17, 2025
Several days of active weather took place from July 17th to the 20th across southeast Ohio as a cold front approached from the west and then stalled over the area. The boundary eventually slid north as a warm front on the 19th of July while a disturbance passed across the Great Lakes region and took aim for New England. A secondary cold front encroached from the north and then sank down through...
Flood — Feb 16, 2025
Light precipitation started to arrive the evening of the 14th, then more substantial rain spread across the area overnight into the 15th as a warm front approached from the south. While precipitation coverage eroded from southeast Ohio and northwest West Virginia during the afternoon, moderate to heavy rain continued to trail across northeast Kentucky, southern West Virginia, and southwest Vir...
Flash Flood — Jul 14, 2025
Beginning on July 14th, a cold front eased towards the Ohio River and remained in the vicinity of southeast Ohio until decaying on the 16th. Daytime heating and passing disturbances aloft prompted daily afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms amid a warm and very moist air mass while the front held residency overhead. ||Storms on the 14th were very efficient rainfall producers, depositi...
Flash Flood — May 13, 2025
Active weather in the form of flash flooding and strong thunderstorms prevailed over southeast Ohio on May 13th as a result of a nearby frontal boundary. The original front stalled across the Ohio Valley on the 11th, then dissolved over the area while a disturbance slowly approached from the southwest for the next several days. This set the stage for heavy downpours and strong thunderstorms ami...
Flash Flood — Jul 7, 2025
After a few drier days, a stretch of active weather returned to the area beginning on July 7th. This was due to a cold front slowly approaching from the west while the remnants of a tropical system tracked north through the Carolinas and Virginia. While the bulk of precipitation associated with the tropical system stayed well east of the Appalachian Mountains, scattered showers and thunderstorm...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Athens County, Ohio:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Athens County, Ohio that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.